Arrival: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Great Twist, No Racket

When we schedule vehicles for year-long stays, we attempt to take a cross section of what's available to the public-from hybrids to trucks to sports cars. But aside from a Chevrolet Silverado 2500D a while back, diesels have been a scarcity in our garage, though no fault of our own. Few were available and fewer met California emissions. Happy to say that's changed for 2009, with several automakers, including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, producing diesels that offer emissions so clean they're saleable in the super-strict Golden State. With that in mind, we ordered VW's brand-new Jetta TDI, whose turbocharged common-rail 2.0-liter with direct injection delivers 50-state-certified LEV II emissions.

Getting our hands on a Jetta TDI wasn't easy: VW underestimated its popularity and imported a mere 1300 to the U.S.-all of which have sold. The popularity comes for good reason as the TDI scoots from 0 to 60 in 8.4 seconds and achieves a combined fuel-economy rating of 33 mpg (in over 7000 miles, we've gotten 34.9 mpg). At $23,090, the TDI, priced right between the petrol-powered SEL and SE trims, represents a strong choice for economy-conscious customers who don't want to sacrifice straight-line performance.

Our love for VW's dual-clutch gearbox necessitated that we check that $1100 option box, even though the standard six-speed manual offers one mpg extra for city and highway. As tested, our Loyal Edition, which incorporates a sunroof (normally a $1000 option), stickers for $24,190, representing savings of over $500 compared with a standard TDI similarly optioned.

On a trip from our Los Angeles offices to Monterey, California, assistant Web producer Scott Evans came back elated with the TDI's capabilities. "The 236 pound-feet of twist really helps the car on the freeway. Passing doesn't require a downshift, but the DSG is so smooth I wouldn't have noticed if it did."

There are some nits to pick. Copy editor James Dryden was impressed with the entire package, but disappointed with the sound system: "The bass rumbles uncomfortably in the door while the highs disappear." Though, after turning off the stereo, Dryden found the exhaust to be comfortably silent; no traditional clack and clatter.

So far, the TDI has been a hit at the office. Everyone who's had seat time has come away impressed with the TDI's undiesel-like nature. And the Jetta's 7202 miles in only two months is proof of its popularity. No wonder they're sold out.

There's a VW dealer not far from where I live, in fact it's the closest dealer to me period, I was thinking of trading in my '08 Yaris for something a bit bigger since we are a family of 4 now plus a dog, was thinking the '09 Jetta SportWagen TDI, but I don't know if the 30/40 mpg will outweigh the $2.17/gal. diesel (currently). I get about 32/37 right now in the Yaris and that is on gas which is 1.69/gal. but with much less space, the only plus that I see on the VW side is that I can tow a decent amount of weight with the diesel, I'm guessing about 1,000 - 2,000 lbs? There is no tow rating on VW.com for some reason on the Jetta SportWagen. I am definitely not buying a gas guzzler again, that's for sure, it's 30+ mpgs from now on, even if I have to chop the back of my Yaris off and turn it into a wagon.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a new TDI when the time comes. Even with 213k miles my '98 Jetta TDI runs like new and gets 40 mpg in town and almost 50 hwy. Tank average with mostly in-town driving is 44mpg. Tamarack asks why anyone would buy one? Here in Connecticut new TDIs are eligible for a $1300 income tax credit AND are exempt from sales tax. That's over $1400 on a $24k Jetta. If he considers a $2700 savings "trendy" then sign me up... Although that seems a stretch when diesels have been around for so long. Silly rabbit, hybrids are the trendy cars.

After re-reading the comments, I want to enlighten people.You cant quote RUG to diesel prices and then say a car that uses premium fuel (almost same price as diesel now) gets xmpg, so is cheaper. No, 27mpg using 2.00 fuel is not cheaper than 35mpg using 2.10 fuel.These are highway cars, nothing beats their highway mileage, not even prius (but they come close and use RUG, but the torque is gone, specially with 4 people and 500 lbs of gear, towing a 1000# trailer)As a city car, these still get 30mpg, but if you do 100% city, just get a prius, they only cost a little more, but they get things that TDI enthusiasts want, like better lights, and more options.If your interested in TDI's at all, goto tdiclub.com and read the forums, more information there and more helpful people than you can imagine for a type of car (engine really).

I hope motortrend reads these comments. I second the fact that there were 1300 Loyal Editions, and your salesman pulled a number on you to convince you to buy (at probably 5k over sticker).From now on, do a search on Autotrader or something, theres both sedans and sportwagens sitting around, not being sold out, and selling for msrp.Also, CO2 saves the rainforest, if we didnt have CO2, we wouldnt have trees :)But yes, Bunnies would die either way, theyre too tasty to everything that has teeth.The only reason TDI's arent cleaner overall than Priusii is their NOx output.

That's actually quite exciting compared to VW diesels of old. It's no slower (still 8.4 seconds) than a regular VW Jetta, but better fuel economy. I still don't understand the fuss. I'm in the middle of California and our local dealer has been putting TDI's out for a few years both of old and current models. Half the Jetta's and Rabbits I see say "TDI" on them. Sneeky :)

@STIC5,By your logic then, if I walked everywhere I'd save TWO cute families of bunnies. Since it takes burning coal in a power plant to charge up PHEVs and fuel cell vehicles, maybe I'd save 1.2 families of bunnies. These vehicles have been on a rolling "few" years out for thirty years. If I had kept waiting for them I'd be driving a 72 Impala. Affordable PHEVs and fuel cell vehicles (if they ever work out the kinks) are a decade out realistically. The Volt is going to cost $40k if GM is still around to build it. This car gets 50 mpg highway (real figures) now, will run on BTL and GTL, and will run on biodiesel once the enthusiasts figure out the minor modifications needed.Now please go troll elsewhere.

Oh wow... halfed it, eh? I think you just saved the rain forest. Probably a really cute family of bunnies too. Wait a few years and better options will come. You're not going to save the world with ancient technology.

Do you guys do even basic research? The car is NOT sold out. They didn't manufacture just 1300 of them. They made 1300 LOYAL EDITIONS with sunroof and premium amp. They've made and are making tens of thousands more of the regular TDIs and Sportwagens. They're sitting on lots right now and many dealers are starting to discount them.Ans STIC5, show me a single mass production plug-in hybrid or fuel cell car than I can buy right now for $25k. Since I can't have one of those and may never be able to have one of those, I've opted for a car that halves my CO2 output and fossil fuel usage, yet can still carry my family plus two large dogs in the cargo area. Try that with a Prius.

Well, last time I checked, diesel was indeed a fossil fuel that does in fact emit CO2. It would seem, therefore, that it makes a lot more sense to focus on something that does neither of those. Plug in hybrids, fuel cells, etc. For the time being there's no point in transitioning from one evil to a much more boring evil.

tamarack,Reasons to buy a TDI or hybrid are to use less fossil fuel, a finite resource, emit less CO2 into the atmosphere and fight global warming, and to also move towards energy independence.Stop simply looking at the price and being reactive, try being proactive towards the future and the environment.

If this TDI is anything like the competitors in the TDI Cup it is slow and cumbersome. The cost of diesel fuel outweighs the mpg advantage over a 2.0T and the TDI is slower and less responsive then the 2.0T. All these disadvantages and yet it also costs more.Why would anyone buy a TDI, or a Prius on that note, other then being trendy?

the only problem is that diesel in buffalo, ny is at least $0.80 more than regular gas. At that price differance your gas car could get 25.5 mpg vs 35 mpg in diesel. My friend has a jetta 2.0T which gets about 27 mpg per tank. So basically its not worth it unless the diesel car was cheaper, which its not.This leads to my statement that the government should tax gas so that the price of regular is equal to the price of diesel.

If you didn't know this was a diesel, and couldn't see the tach, you'd hardly know this thing was not a gas engine. It revs freely, its relatively quiet, not a bad job VW. I don't know where these things are sold out though, theres 10 at the VW dealerships within a 15 mile radius of Albany, NY

The only thing that could make this better is if they imported the high output version of this engine which makes 170 hp and 258 ft-lb. Although maybe a Passat Estate wagon with that engine might not be a bad idea. Since VW UK website says that both engines get the same fuel economy.